An Amazonian Beauty Recipe

Remember back in September when I introduced you to Rahua, a hair care and styling brand representative of Amazonian beauty, that won me over with its beautiful packaging and amazing products? I tried out a shampoo, conditioner, and a voluminous spray at the time; the collection has expanded since then, and now includes body products as well – though these are as of yet unavailable in Finland.

A little while ago, Biodelly (which has recently undergone a face lift) sent me all the Rahua products that I hadn’t yet had a chance to try, so that I could do just that. I pretty much swear by this brand, and it’s no wonder the it is is among the world’s best known natural hair care and styling brands out there, trusted by numerous American celebrity hairdressers and Hollywood stars.

Apart from the great products themselves, I was won over by Rahua’s beautiful packaging, which are without a doubt some of the most beautiful ones I’ve seen in hair care. And as you know, I love hearing the stories behind the brands, and Rahua, with its heartwarming story, is no exception.

Rahua was created by New York based hairdresser Fabian Lliguin, whose products are based on the precious rahua oil, which is harvested from trees in the Amazonian forest by traditional methods. The hand-picking of nuts from the rahua trees by men is a time-consuming process; the making of the oil itself, a task traditionally only performed by women, is an even longer one, sometimes taking up to a whole month.

Fabian is a native of the Quechua tribe in Ecuador. For the women of the Quechua tribe, rahua oil is a centuries old beauty product, and is in fact regarded as the secret to the beautiful, thick and shiny tresses of the Amazonian women. The oil’s power lies in a tiny molecular structure which, unlike most oils which only coat the follicle, allows it to penetrate the hair fiber.

The video below takes us through the picking of the nuts, and the process of making the oil. This is the true meaning of “handcrafted”.

The voluminous shampoo and conditioner have the answers to all my prayers. My hair is untypical for a Finn: very thick and strong, but easily matted down and oily. I need a thick and foamy shampoo to keep this impossible mane in check. I also need quite a lot of washing power so my hair doesn’t just plaster itself against my scalp – nothing too conditioning or smoothing, in other words, though I do require shine and silkiness.

A look at the ingredients list explains the product’s effectiveness: an organic infusion of green tea, lemongrass, and aloe vera leaf extract (and water) makes up the base. This is a wonderful combo of cleansing, brightening, and conditioning herbs. The shampoo also contains sea salt – which I believe contributes to the excellent cleansing power –, rahua oil, as well as essential lavender and eucalyptus oil, which make my scalp is immensely happy. The same infusion makes up the base of the conditioner.

This duo is exactly what I’ve been looking for. I really liked the shampoo and conditioner than I tried before, but found them a bit too conditioning in the long run. I recommend the previous combo for dry, rough, and dyed hair. If you need lift and airiness, your hair will love the volumizing ones.

Rahua’s voluminous spray is another great product for thin and fine Finnish hair; it is hydrating and conditioning, but also builds up with frequent use to create texture and lightness. I love the spray, even though it’s not exactly a must-have for my hair.

Omega 9 is the best hair mask I’ve ever tried, and the first natural mask that I can or even want to use, or that feels effective. Oil masks and my hair don’t really mix.

I could barely believe how my hair felt after the first try of Rahua’s mask. It felt like I had just slathered my hair with silicone-infused deep-conditioner! Here’s a little tip: try adding a bit of the mask into your conditioner. This great epiphany came to me as I was looking for something more nourishing than my conditioner, but not as full-on as a mask.

The mask contains a host of magical ingredients, including canola oil, rahua oil, rapeseed oil, and shea butter – all of which are full of repairing and nourishing fatty-acids to smooth and nourish the hair.

I was a bit skeptical about the finishing treatment to begin with, as natural treatments have a tendency of leaving the hair feeling tacky. My prejudice was completely unfounded, however. A tiny knob of this cream worked into the damp ends of my hair made it smooth and silky without weighing the hair down or leaving it feeling sticky.

I use a straightening iron daily, and since stretching the time between salon visits to eight weeks, the heat damage in my ends is becoming rather apparent. The finishing treatment protects the hair from the heat and keeps the ends looking healthy, and is a great product for all of you who have been asking for natural heat protectors. It’s important to remember, however, that with natural oil products, less is more.

The final hurrah-worthy product is Rahua’s hair wax. The consistency is so perfect, it’s hard to believe it’s actually natural. It’s not too oily or greasy, and just a small dollop of this will do (consequently, the product will last you for at least a year). The wax provides just enough hold, without feeling sticky. I only really use styling products to control the fly-aways that manage to escape my straightening iron; the wax is perfect for this purpose, and I’m certain it will satisfy all other natural hair-styling needs, too.

Rahua’s products are 100% natural, vegan, and the vegetable oils and fats are certified by the USDA.

As a parting tip I’d like to inform you that Biodelly is currently celebrating the opening of its new online store, and Rahua’s voluminous shampoo and Omega 9 hair mask are 25% off until February 17th 2015.

I’ve been going on about the importance of splashing on plenty of toners so much that by now everyone around ne should be glowing like a boiled, peeled egg thanks to the 7 Skin Method! Along with hydration, oiling the skin is at least as important and mustn’t be forgotten.

Inke’s Beauty Corner puts natural cosmetics to the test as possible replacements for her go-to products. I’ve been testing natural cosmetics brands with an open mind and without major preconceptions, […]